Diving in DC
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: LAX
Posts: 453
Diving in DC
I'm staying in Arlington in a few weeks, near the Francis Scott Key Bridge and am looking for "dive bar" recommendations.
I'm not looking for a place to have a knife fight, but just a somewhat skeezy place to drink. Preferably with a jukebox.
I'm not looking for a place to have a knife fight, but just a somewhat skeezy place to drink. Preferably with a jukebox.
#2
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Del Ray, Alexandria, Virginia
Programs: KE Skypass, Morning Calm
Posts: 1,655
Rosslyn (i.e., the Key Bridge area) is just a couple of Metro (Orange Line) stops away from the Clarendon area of Arlington which has a fair amount of neighborhood-type bars, especially along Wilson Boulevard. Nothing really divey anymore (rents these days are just too high) and probably a few too many hipster-wannabes, but there are a number of decent places for a drink or few. When I first graduated from college there were still some nudie bars and "massage" places just up the hill from Rosslyn, but those days are long gone.
Clarendon bars
Clarendon bars
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: south of WAS DC
Posts: 10,131
Rosslyn (i.e., the Key Bridge area) is just a couple of Metro (Orange Line) stops away from the Clarendon area of Arlington which has a fair amount of neighborhood-type bars, especially along Wilson Boulevard. Nothing really divey anymore (rents these days are just too high) and probably a few too many hipster-wannabes, but there are a number of decent places for a drink or few. When I first graduated from college there were still some nudie bars and "massage" places just up the hill from Rosslyn, but those days are long gone.
Clarendon bars
Clarendon bars
#5
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 135
A short drive into D.C. will soon produce the ambience you seek. You will soon find what you seek. Then again, ask the hotel staff about where to go.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Greener Pastures
Posts: 10,515
Jay's Saloon in Clarendon (just a couple of stops up on the metro in Arlington) is probably the best dive bar in the area - from the Key Bridge, take the metro up to Clarendon & walk up Wilson Blvd towards the Hess gas station & make a left on Fairfax (maybe called 10th street too) & Jay's is about 2 blocks up on the left, right past the Avis sign & near a small unbranded car dealership. After drinking, you can grab a slice of pizza late night at Mario's Pizza House (right up from the Hess station on Wilson - best pizza in town! - they're open til 4AM).
Also, there's a good dive bar in Ballston - but I can't remember the name of it as its been a while since I've been there - it's on Fairfax as well & sort of next to the 7-11 & the Food Factory Indian restaurant - it's got a yellow sign.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp...file&id=795123 - Jay's Saloon
If you're staying at the Key Bridge, there's not really much in Georgetown or Rosalyn, unfortunately. Cowboy Cafe is also nearby, but I don't think it's metro accessible & you'd have to cab it both ways from Key Bridge (unless you have a car - and if you plan on drinking & driving, it's a pretty straight shot down Rt. 29 to get back, but there are often cops on that road). Here's a review of Cowboy Cafe - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...0601817_4.html (if you read the whole article, it'll mention Dr. Dremo's in Arlington, that place has sadly closed down).
Also, there's a good dive bar in Ballston - but I can't remember the name of it as its been a while since I've been there - it's on Fairfax as well & sort of next to the 7-11 & the Food Factory Indian restaurant - it's got a yellow sign.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp...file&id=795123 - Jay's Saloon
If you're staying at the Key Bridge, there's not really much in Georgetown or Rosalyn, unfortunately. Cowboy Cafe is also nearby, but I don't think it's metro accessible & you'd have to cab it both ways from Key Bridge (unless you have a car - and if you plan on drinking & driving, it's a pretty straight shot down Rt. 29 to get back, but there are often cops on that road). Here's a review of Cowboy Cafe - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...0601817_4.html (if you read the whole article, it'll mention Dr. Dremo's in Arlington, that place has sadly closed down).
Last edited by bhatnasx; May 26, 2008 at 7:46 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Del Ray, Alexandria, Virginia
Programs: KE Skypass, Morning Calm
Posts: 1,655
Not before I was born, but I didn't arrive in DC until the 70s as a lowly Hoya freshman. I still remember the stench of Georgetown's Hopfenmaier rendering plant, and Georgetown, Arlington and Alexandria were TEEMING with divey bars.
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: LAX
Posts: 453
Thanks for the suggestions. I ended up going to a place called "The Continental" a pool hall, pretty close to the Rosslyn station. It was cool and they had a good jukebox. Also apparently I went on half priced burger night, which the burgers were very good.